The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-07-07
AMONG THE MORMONS.
A Henderson Man Writes Entertain
ing1y About Salt Lake City and
its People.

EDITOR GOLD LEAF thinking
that your readers would like to hear
something about that peculiar people
known as Mormons, | will, according
to promise, give you a hasty sketch of
some of the things that impressed me
most during a several days stay at
Salt Lake City. To appreciate the
Mormons at this place, one must know
something Of their history here. Salt
Lake City, the Mormon Metropolis,
is now city Of something over 10000
inhabitants. 1t was founded in July,
1847, at which time this was Mexican
territory. The pioneers under the
leadership of Brigham Young num-
bered 142 These fanatics, driven out
from Nauvoo in Illinois, went here in
this wild wilderness where they vainly
imagined they might forever, as they
claimed, a00rshlb Goa according to
the dictates Of their own consciences.
Here, in this desert valley where moth
ing but species of bunch grass grew,
and where the ground WIS covered
with black crickets which were the
food Of the Indians, Brigham Young
claimed to nave received personal
command from God to halt his starry
ing teams and lay off a city. Before
they built even an adobe hut they
surveyed and laid off the streets for a
magnificent city. They laid it of
in square blocks Of 10 acres each, with
streets 1872 feet wide, each one OF
which runs due to the cardinal points
of the compass. As the result Of their
unremitting labor, these streets are
now thickly bordered with shade trees,
and each one has on either side, be-
tween the side walk and carriage way,
a clear swift running stream of water.
And every yard is SO densely covered
with foliage as almost to conceal the
houses giving the city the appearance
of an immense and lovely garden
while to form the most striking con
trast to this almost tropical abundance
of foliage the Twin Peaks in the
Wasatch Mountains about IS miles dis
tant, lift their snow-crowned heads as
stern and silent reminders OF the desola-
ton that held sway ere the industry
of man reclaimed this spot from the
wilderness.
OF course the principal object o
interest to stranger is the Sacred
Square, which contains about 10 acres
and is surrounded by a high adobe
wall, here are, the Temple, not ye
completed, (in which the true Nor
mon believes Christ will reveal him
self personally to the Saints when The
finishing touches have been put on
the Tabernacle, the Assembly Hall, the
Endowment House, and various smaller
buildings for the officers. Were it no
too great an Infringement on your
space, l would be glad to describe
each one of these buildings minutely
but shall give YOU only a brief de
scription of one-the Tabernacle
There is nothing attractive in It's out
side appearance. 1t is elliptical il
shape, $50 feet long by $50 feet wide
and only 70 feet high. To be appre
Ciated one must view the interior
which presents an oval arch without
any central support whatever, making
probably, the largest self-supportlnG
roof in America except the Crane
Central Depot in New York city anc
the largest in the world that is con
structed entirely of wood. The gal
lery which extends around all sides Q
the building except the organ side, i
$50 feet long by 80 feet wide. Gh'
building has a seating capacity 70
over 10, 900. easily holds 1900 ane
it is said has held 1900 at some 0
| their celebrations. 1t has 20 doors
each 9 feet wide, all of which oper
outward furnishing easy egress in cas-
of fire or panics. In this, as in man.
] other respects furnishing an exampl
the Gentle world would do we'll t
follow. In the west end Of this build
ing is the great organ excelled Il
beauty and sweetness OF tone by none